Analysis of fullerenes in soils samples collected in The Netherlands

Detection and Quantification of Graphene-Family Nanomaterials in the Environment

“…Fullerenes have been extracted from complex matrices using solid phase extraction techniques (i.e., chromatography) and liquid-liquid phase extraction, mostly with toluene as the non-polar phase, and sometimes, the addition of salt to destabilize the nC 60 particles. 80, 91, 215 Importantly, extraction approaches have been successfully used to enable quantification of fullerene concentrations in complex matrices such as sediments, 216, 217 soils, 218, 219 and organisms. 220, 221 An approach for detection of oxidized fullerenes (i.e., fullerols) has been the addition of salt and toluene for liquid or solid phase extraction, and, occasionally, solid phase extraction of oxidized fullerenes in an aqueous phase after less oxidized fullerenes are separated out using toluene.…”

“…Techniques used for CNT purification (i.e., separating a distribution of CNTs into homogeneous fractions) such as gel permeation chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, density ultracentrifugation, and two-phase polymer extraction may also be considered with respect to the extraction of GFNs from environmental matrices. − Fullerene extraction has been even more thoroughly studied than CNT extraction, most likely due to having a less heterogeneous distribution of particles, at least in terms of size, and their affinity for many organic solvents such as toluene. Fullerenes have been extracted from complex matrices using solid phase extraction techniques (i.e., chromatography) and liquid–liquid phase extraction, mostly with toluene as the nonpolar phase, and sometimes, the addition of salt to destabilize the nC 60 particles. ,, Importantly, extraction approaches have been successfully used to enable quantification of fullerene concentrations in complex matrices such as sediments, , soils, , and organisms. , An approach for detection of oxidized fullerenes (i.e., fullerols) has been the addition of salt and toluene for liquid or solid phase extraction, and, occasionally, solid phase extraction of oxidized fullerenes in an aqueous phase after less oxidized fullerenes are separated out using toluene. , Because GFNs have a different shape than CNTs and fullerenes, a distribution and range of physical dimensions, surface chemistries that can range from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, and are affected by transformation processes in the environment, testing of CNT and fullerene extraction methods with GFNs needs to be attempted and modified as needed. Although it is unlikely that a “one-size-fits-all” approach will work considering the range of physicochemical properties that GFNs can have, development of efficient and simple extraction techniques for GO, rGO, FLG, and single-layer graphene along with extraction techniques for GFNs with various lateral sizes and thicknesses would be very useful.…”

11 - Theoretical Modeling of QCM-D Sensors in Environmental Applications

“…The understanding of interaction of fullerenes with water in wet biological samples is an important part of the environmental health research [9]. In particular, it was shown [10] that the grass pollen particles may bind to diesel nanoparticles causing allergy and asthma diseases. The usage of the QCM sensor coated with the pollen-imprinted polymer film [12] for the allergen analysis opened a way to study the particles micro-rheology.…”

Incubation of solid state C 60 fullerene under UV irradiation mimicking environmentally relevant conditions

“…The sandy soil consisted of a fullerenes free top-soil (top 10 cm) collected in a natural park in Oude Schulpweg, Castricum, the Netherlands (52 32 0 39.689 00 N, 4 39 0 5.623 00 E). This soil had previously been characterized by our group and had no detectable fullerenes (Carboni et al, 2016b) and 0.2% organic carbon (Carboni et al, 2016a). The soil was placed in an oven at 65 C for one week in order to remove traces of water and then sieved with a 1.68 mm mesh.…”